Ambulance Services

The delivery of ambulance service in the Region of Waterloo is the responsibility of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of the Region of Waterloo Public Health department.

The land ambulance cost is shared between the Region and the Province in accordance with funding. In 2010, approximately $17.5 million was budgeted for the provision of ambulance service.

Advanced Care Paramedics

The Advanced Care Paramedics "bring the emergency room to the patient" by inserting breathing tubes into the trachea (windpipe), providing cardiac monitoring, pacing and defibrillation, monitoring blood levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, providing intravenous access and fluid delivery, and administering multiple medications to the critically ill.

Advanced paramedic activities are controlled by physicians at the Centre for Paramedic Education and Research operated by the Hamilton Health Sciences in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Cost for the Ambulance Ride

While most of the $500+ average cost of an ambulance call is funded by the Regional Municipality and OHIP, the Ministry of Health prescribes a co-payment for every transport. Residents with OHIP coverage pay a $45 co-payment for essential ambulance calls (including air ambulance trips) and a $240 charge for non-essential calls.

Patients without OHIP coverage pay the full $240 charge for all ambulance calls. Transfers between hospitals or those trips involving residents of nursing homes, homes for the aged, and other special care homes, are provided at no charge.

EMS and the Region do not receive any portion of the co-payment charge. All inquiries regarding ambulance bills should be directed to the Patient Accounts department at the hospital involved.

The Region of Waterloo is committed to improving service delivery by reducing ambulance response times and expanding paramedic skills.

Regional Council has approved funding for the hiring of additional paramedics, and the purchase of extra vehicles and equipment to ensure that all the Region's residents receive exceptional pre-hospital care.